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Chinese Head Tax
The Chinese Head Tax was a fee charged to every Chinese person entering Canada. The fee was $50 per Chinese immigrant. It was aimed to discourage the Chinese from entering Canada after the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway. This affected immigration in Canada as less immigrants were entering Canada, more specifically immigrants coming from China. This law was eventually abolished by the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923. -
Komagata Maru Incident
The Komagata Maru Incident involved a Japanese ship, full of Indian passengers, that were not allowed entry into Canada. They were denied entry as they had not sailed directly to Canada from India, and had to sail back home. This is related to immigration in Canada as at the time of this incident, Canada favoured immigrants of British descent and often refused ones from Asia. This is different from today where no one is excluded from entering Canada because of their race or country of origin. -
Internment of Ukrainian Canadians
The Internment of Ukrainian Canadians was part of the confinement of "enemy aliens" in Canada a couple years after World War I ended. Canada imprisoned 8,600 people, most of whom were of Ukrainian origin. This had an impact on immigration in Canada as before the interment, Ukrainians were a major part of the Canadian population. There were growing communities of Ukrainian Canadians in cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Hamilton. After the internment, this was no more. -
Internment of Italian Canadians
The Internment of Italian Canadians began when Italy declared war on Canada in 1940. Much like the internment of Ukrainian Canadians, they were labeled as "enemy aliens" and 600 men were imprisoned. This also relates to immigration in Canada as again less immigrants were coming from Italy, and this event also caused changes in immigration policies in Canada. -
Internment of Japanese Canadians
The Internment of Japanese Canadians was the detainment of Canadians of Japanese heritage that started after the Canadian declaration of war on Japan. These citizens were placed in internment camps and their possessions were sold by the Canadian government to fund these camps. This impacted immigration in Canada as it discouraged people of Japanese descent from coming to Canada, and making a living there. Also, the Japanese that were detained lost all their possessions, and had to start again. -
Immigration Act
The Immigration Act gave more power to the provinces to set their immigration laws. Additionally, it created four new classes of immigrants, including refugees, families, assisted relatives, and individual immigrants. This impacted immigration in Canada because now provinces could pick and choose immigrants entering Canada to settle in their province and work in needed jobs. Also, all immigrants entering Canada needed a reason to enter, so people without education couldn't get in. -
Creation of Immigration Categories
Canada created categories of the immigrants that were permitted into Canada. These include family class, refugees, economic class, and other (people accepted for compassionate reasons). This controlled the flow of immigrants entering Canada, and allowed educated and skilled people into Canada over uneducated foreigners. This benefitted Canada as they could let in people with the education for the jobs they needed inside. -
Refugees Being Added as an Immigration Category
Refugees being added as an immigration category was an important move in helping people from around the world. It allowed people in need of a home find one in a safe country. People suffering from wars in their home country can come to Canada for a better life. This affects immigration to Canada because Canada will receive different people from around the world, which will lead to a diversified population in Canada. This will also help maintain Canada's population. -
Singh Decision
The Singh Decision refers to a court case where a man named Satnam Singh came from India seeking refugee status. The government rejected his case and didn't let him challenge the government on their decision. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that this went against a section of the charter and then allowed Singh to challenge the government. This affected immigration in Canada as people seeking refugee status now have the right to a hearing to decide if they are to be allowed to enter. -
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
The IRPA replaces the Immigration Act of 1976. It regulates the immigrants entering Canada and sorts them into categories. It details the guidelines that Canada has set with regards to immigration to Canada. It affects immigration by requiring skills and knowledge from people wanting to settle in Canada, limiting the amount who get in, and improving the quality of the ones that do.
